Amusement spinning device

ABSTRACT

An Amusement Spinning Device that consists of a base plate having an outer edge which has on the bottom side three or more anti-slip supporting lugs and a cup shaped shoulder near the outer edge and on the top side of said base plate that supports an annular type axial thrust ball bearing assembly at the outer boundary of the device. Also there is an inverted cup shaped top plate that is tightly fitted over the ball bearing assembly annular band and covers the top side of the ball bearing assembly and forms a support for an anti-slip top cap. This device is very small in size and for one foot operation.

[111 SBQS [451 May1,1973

lned Sates Patent Sellman PATENTEUNY H975 3,730,521

lN-VENTOR. DONALD L. SELLMAN CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION Thisapplication in part discloses and claims subject matter disclosed in myearlier filed copending application, Ser. No. 743,091, filed July 8,1968 and now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l. Field of the Invention lt consists ofAmusement, exercising devices, and skill developing devices on which aperson can ride standing on one foot.

2. Description of the Prior Art La Londes Pirouette Exerciser, U.S. Pat.No. 2,835,492 has a function somewhat similar to my invention but thestructure is in direct contrast, for his structure has a centrallylocated bearing assembly with an upright center pin bearing support.

Waldens Merry-Go-Around, U.S. Pat. No. 3,155,388 is a self propelleddevice revolving around two centrally located bearings at the oppositeends ofa vertical shaft.

Both ofthese structures have an upright center pin or center shaft toprovide a lateral bearing support to prevent tipping over. These bearingstructures are in direct contrast to my bearing structure, which has asingle ball bearing assembly at the outer boundary of my spinningdevice, that controls both axial and down thrust actions and provides adevice that can be made less than one inch in height which is one thirdthe height that La Londe specifies as his preferred height for hisstructure. This low height, not only makes my device compact but alsoeasy and safe to operate. Also my bearing structure, which provides manybearing balls to hold up the weight, has low friction therefore myspinner will sustain a spin for a long time with little exertion of theoperator.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION can be performed on my spinner, such as thepirouette,

a sustained spin, changing speed at will, changing from one foot to theother and changing posture from standing upright to Crouching whilespinning.

An additional object of my invention is to provide a spinning devicethat would develop a persons sense of balance, which would be a lifelong asset.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING FIG. l is a crosssection view of the complete assembled amusement spinning device, whichassembly is represented by the letter A. FIG. 2 is a partially cut awayperspective view of'the axial thrust ball bearing assembly, representedby the letter B. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the bottom side of thebase plate assembly, represented by the letter C. FIG. 4 is a view ofthe spinning device A, on which a girl is making a one foot spin.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring in detail to the drawings, likecharacters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

In FIG. 3 the complete base assembly is designated by the letter C, theouter substantially flat rim is 8, the inner inverted cup shapedshoulder forming the top side of the base plate is-9, and the invertedcup shaped anti-slip lugs 10, are on the bottom side of the base platerim 8, these lugs are held in place by a centrally located rivet 1 l.

The complete radial thrust bearing assembly in FIG. 2 is represented bythe letter B, No. l is the inner collar and cupped inner bearing race,No. 2 is the outer cupped bearing race, No. 3 is the ball bearings thatare journaled between the inner and outer cupped bearing races, No. 4 isthe annular band that holds the inner and outer races and the ballbearings together and also provides a dust shield by inward projectingbottom rim.

In FIG. l the letter A is used to represent the complete assembled onefoot spinning device, top plate 5 is an inverted cup shaped top platethat fits tightly over the outer side of the annular band 4 to form abase on which an elastic anti-slip top cap 6 is secured.

In FIG. 4 a girl is making a one foot spin on this amusement spinningdevice A, with her balance leg and arms extended.

The illustrations in the drawings are exaggerated in size'to make thedetails of the assembly easier tocomprehend. This spinning device shouldnot be over l inch in height and not over 3 la inch in width, the ballbearings could be 1A inch size or as small as l/s inch in diameter. Thelarger size ball bearings make a faster spinner. Also the degree ofslope from top to bottom of the inverted cup shaped shoulder 9,is'exaggerated for clarity; but inpractice the shoulder 9 would be veryslightly larger in diameter at the bottom than at the top.

The axial thrust ball bearing assembly illustrated in the drawings anddescribed in the specification, is not ground and polished; yet makes avery satisfactory ball bearing assembly for this spinning device. Alsothis non-ground ball bearing assembly costs about l/ 10 as much as aground precision made ball bearing assembly of the same type; therebyproviding a spinning device that would be low priced and which manycould afford.

In FIG. 4 the girl is shown spinning on the toe ofthe right foot; mostpeople would prefer to stand on the ball of the foot instead of the toe.She has her balancing leg and arms extended. By the proper manipulationof her balance leg and arms, she can increase or slow down her speed ofrotation. From a bended knee croutch, the spinner can jump into the airabove while spinning and light on the spinner with either foot andcontinue the spin. Many of the beautiful pirouettes, spins, and jumps ofice skating can be accomplished on this spinning device. Many peoplewould soon be able to make a forward pirouette on the right or left footbut there would still be so much more to accomplish. Besides theenjoyment of making accomplishments on this spinner, the development ofa persons sense of balance, would be a lifelong asset.

Iclaim:

3 4 l. A one-foot spinning device comprising in comrace and havinganinwardly extending curved porbination: tion, a maximal array of ballbearings joumaled a. a base assembly having a substantially flat outerbetween said bearing races, an annular band havrim, an inverted cupshaped shoulder extending ing inwardly directed rim portions overlyingSaid upwardly, obtusely angled from said rim and form- 5 outer bearingrace and partially encompassing said ing a substantially flat top baseplate; outwardly extending curved portion of said inner b. an annularaxial thrust ball bearing assembly surbearing face; and

rounding said shoulder and constituting the d an Inverted CUP Shaped topPlate Ughtly fitted over periphery of said device; Said annular band QSaid ball bearing assembly Comprising a cupped l 2. The device of claim1 wheren said outer rim has at inner bearing race secured to saidupwardly exleast three ground engeging ami'slip Supportiflglflgg attending shoulder and having an outwardly extend tached thereto and saidtop plate has an antl-sllp top ing curved portion, a cupped outerbearing race in 'cap secured theretoan inverted position relative tosaid inner bearing

1. A one-foot spinning device comprising in combination: a. a baseassembly having a substantially flat outer rim, an inverted cup shapedshoulder extending upwardly, obtusely angled from said rim and forming asubstantially flat top base plate; b. an annular axial thrust ballbearing assemBly surrounding said shoulder and constituting theperiphery of said device; c. said ball bearing assembly comprising acupped inner bearing race secured to said upwardly extending shoulderand having an outwardly extending curved portion, a cupped outer bearingrace in an inverted position relative to said inner bearing race andhaving an inwardly extending curved portion, a maximal array of ballbearings journaled between said bearing races, an annular band havinginwardly directed rim portions overlying said outer bearing race andpartially encompassing said outwardly extending curved portion of saidinner bearing race; and d. an inverted cup shaped top plate tightlyfitted over said annular band.
 2. The device of claim 1 wheren saidouter rim has at least three ground engaging anti-slip supporting lugsattached thereto and said top plate has an anti-slip top cap securedthereto.